The Linux touch Command: Create or Update Timestamps

touch creates empty files or updates timestamps on existing files.

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Basic Usage

Create file

touch newfile.txt

Creates empty file.

Update timestamp

touch existing.txt

Updates mtime to now.

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Options

• -a — Change atime only
• -m — Change mtime only
• -c — Don't create (just update)
• -d TIME — Set time
• -r FILE — Use timestamp from reference file

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Examples

Don't create

touch -c nonexistent.txt

Does nothing (no error either).

Use reference time

touch -r otherfile.txt newfile.txt

Copies timestamp from otherfile.

Set specific time

touch -d "2024-01-01 00:00" file.txt

Set exact timestamp.

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Further Reading

• touch Manual
• touch Command Builder